Britain's retail sales growth hit 7-year high in July: BRC
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E-mail Xinhua, August 6, 2013
The continued sunny weather and discount promotion activities by retailers boosted Britain's retail sales to increase 2.2 percent in July on a like-for-like basis from July 2012, said British Retail Consortium (BRC) on Tuesday.
According to a survey report jointly issued by BRC and KPMG, the total retail sales surged 3.9 percent in July. Retail sales registered a 2.0-percent increase in July 2012.
In real terms, total sales grew by 4.4 percent, the fastest monthly growth since April 2011.
"This is a very solid sales performance, the second best month this year and better than we've seen in any July since 2006," said BRC Director General Helen Dickinson.
"The sunny weather boosted the food and fashion categories while dampening the home categories - Furniture & Flooring, Home Accessories and House Textiles, as well as internet sales," said the BRC.
Online sales were up 7.9 percent compared with July 2012, when they had risen by 15.6 percent.
Food has performed very strongly, with summer barbecue ingredients and feel-good foods doing well during the month, Dickinson said.
"Clothing has also had a very good month, which was down to good weather spurring summer fashion buys and some very good discounting," Dickinson added.
Retail sales account for one tenth of Britain's economy. Based on the report, other factors that helped promote retail sales also included Murray's Wimbledon triumph, Chris Froome in the Tour de France, the start of the Ashes series and the arrival of the royal baby.
The events gave consumers the "much needed feel good factor, encouraging them to leave caution behind and help retailers put in a champion performance," said David McCorquodale, Head of Retail at KPMG. Endit
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